In vitro Antioxidant activity and Phytochemical composition of Syringodium isoetifolium

Abstract

Seagrass are the marine flowering plants found mainly in clear, shallow estuaries and coastal waters. In all temperate and trophical region seagrasses grow both internally and subtidally. One such seagrass namely Syringodium isoetifolium has many medicinal properities. This seagrass have most promising pharmacological activities which may include anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antidiarrheal, antihaemorrhoidal activities. This study is focussed on the phytochemical evaluation and in vitro antioxidant activity of aqueous, ethanol and hydroalcoholic extract of Syringodium isoetifolium. The qualitative analysis of Syringodium isoetifolium shows the presence of tannin, saponin, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, alkaloids, anthraquinone, polyphenol and coumarin. In all the three extracts only ethanol shows the high concentration of phytocompounds. Emodins, glycoside and anthocyanin were found to be absent in all the three extracts. Quantitative analysis of total phenol, flavonoid, saponin and tannin were found to be 193.10 ±13.52, 106.11 ± 7.42, 52.96 ± 3.64 and 81.30 ± 5.69. Superoxide anion radical, Nitric oxide and Hydroxy radical scavenging assay showed that Syringodium isoetifolium was an excellent scavenger of these radicals. These results are an indication of the potent antioxidant property of the extract and may be responsible for some of the therapeutic uses of Syringodium isoetifolium.